Tour Makassar – Toraja, RAKERNAS IMBI

Pengurus IMBI Pusat dan Dalam rangka RAKERNAS IMBI di Toraja, rombongan motor besar melaksanakan kegiatan tour dari Makassar/Ujung Pandang ke Toraja p.p.

Ready to start riding from Makassar (Hotel Santika) to Toraja (Hotel Misiliana)

Dengan pesawat Garuda mendarat di Airport Hasanuddin Makassar. Setelah mendarat daerah sekitar airport dan Makassar di timpa oleh hujan lebat dan angin kencang. Perjalanan dengan taxi ke hotel Santika, Makssar dalam keadaan hujan badai. Untunglah sekarang sudah ada jalan toll menuju Makassar. Kami menginap di hotel Santika Makassar. Setelah menghadiri undangan makan malam yang diadakan oleh Pengda IMBI Makassar, membawa motor kembali ke hotel untuk mengambil peralatan riding yang di bawa dengan motor, antara lain, riding pants, jacket dan riding boots.

Sekedar informasi motor-motor peserta dari Jakarta dan sekitarnya dikirim dengan kapal sebelumnya.

Stop for lunch at Pare-Pare mayor house

Pengda-Pengda berfoto bersama setelah selesai Rakernas

At RAKERNAS IMBI, 2012, Toraja, South Sulawesi

At Misiliana Hotel, in the background is a limestone hill where the hanging grave is located.

Istirahat di rumah kediaman walikota Pare-Pare

Bukit dengan morfologi yang unik dilihat dari restoran Bukit Indah

Tour Central & Eastern Europe

Seven couples rode motorcycles in the central and eastern Europe, started from Munich, and continued to Prague, approaching border of Poland and then to Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and accross Austria into Alp Mountain Ranges and back to Munich, Germany. The route can be seen in the attached map

googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=217383753022147987839.0004b8d1dc8c83f5740f9&ie=UTF8&ll=48.06146,15.740313&spn=4.052701,8.409335&t=m&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

We left Indonesia for Germany on April 19, 2012 with stop over in Doha, Qatar. The next day we spent one day buying some additional gears that might be needed for riding in relatively cold climate. I happened to bring my Gerbing’s heating gears including pant and jacket liners with glove. It worked very well, although in the last days of riding I did not turn them on anymore as the weather it’s getting warmer.

After picking up our bikes in the rental store, consisting of seven BMW R1200RT varied in years from 2008 to relatively brand new bikes with some bikes with GPS installed on them, we started riding in noon from Munich to Prague via Pilsen where the first Pilsener Beer come from this town. It has museum of beer and ongoing factory.

Some of our routes were on auto bahn where there was no speed limitation. It was a tough ride especially when we hit by strong side wind. That afternoon was also our opportunity to familiriaze our self with the bikes. We reached Pilsen around 18.00 hrs and the day was still light. After having dinner in the rest area we continued riding toward Prague. We saw the thick cloud was coming which for sure bringing rain with it. We continue riding in the rain and had to stop in the restaurant waiting the heavy rain to stop. With some drizzles we continue riding to Prague. Around 22.00 hrs we arrived in Prague and went stratight to the hotel. It has been a tough ride today.

The next day we have a time to visit several tourist areas such as Heroes Square which is situated near by our hotel. We rode a tram to down town area visiting heritages building such as the palace, Charles Bridge and souvenir shops. Today we recovered our self from fatigue of riding yesterday. At night, we discussed the next day route. There were some changes in our original route. Instead of going to Poland, we were informed that our bike insurance did not cover any lost or damage if happened in this region. So, we decided that after approaching the Poland border we turn right heading to Bratislava, Slovakia (distance wise we would cover the same distance).

ACEH TOUR TO KM ZERO IN SABANG

A group of seven persons with six motor cycles that mostly of BMW GS Adventure conducted a tour starting from Padang, West Sumatra to Banda Aceh and finished in Medan, North Sumatra.
Tour started on December 16 from Minangkabau Airport, Padang and completed in Medan on Dec 22, 2011.
The group arrived in Padang and all bikes have already stood-by. After changing the clothes with riding gears including riding pants, jacket, boots and helmet, we started to ride to Bukittinggi about 80 kms from Padang. We passed through famous and beautiful Lembah Anai and an old bridge of three track train we arrived at Padang Panjang and stop at Mak Syukur Sate Padang restaurant. We enjoyed the food very much and continued riding to Bukit Tinggi under heavy rain all the way. We arrived in Bukittinggi at dusk and went straight to the Hills Hotel, near Jam Gadang (Big Clock).

Route Tour from Padang, Banda Aceh and medan

Just arrived and ready to ride from Minangkabau Airport, Padang to Bukit Tinggi

We spent one night in Bukit Tinggi. We had an excellent dinner at Padang Restaurant near Jam Gadang. Before taking rest we enjoyed having very good taste durian.

Jam Gadang (Big Clock) at night in Bukit Tinggi

The next morning we continued our ride to Sibolga through Bonjol, Kotanopan, Padang Sidempuan. We have ridden through this route before. We stopped in Bonjol at the Equator Monument and crossed the line from southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere.

In action on the Equator Line.

From Bonjol, we continued our ride through the Mandailing Natal regency and stop for lunch in Penyabungan, From there we rode up north and in Padang Sidempuan we took the road to the left approaching the coastal area again. Before dusk we arrived at Sibolga and went straight to the Hotel Wisata Indah located near the beach.

Route Map from Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra to Sibolga, North Sumatra

In action on the Equator Line.

Route Tour from Padang, Banda Aceh and medan

Just arrived and ready to ride from Minangkabau Airport, Padang to Bukit Tinggi

West coast of Aceh

Logo IMBI DKI-Jaya

Floating Power Plant washed out 3.5 km to shore and landed on the roof of the houses

Tsunami Memorial Museum

Riding group covered by local news

In Wild Life Gallery, Medan

Route Map from Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra to Sibolga, North Sumatra

Muddy road between Manduamas to Lipat Kajang

The survivor !

Route Map from Sibolga, North Sumatra to Tapak Tuan, Aceh

Jam Gadang (Big Clock) at night in Bukit Tinggi

Stop near Lipat Kajang near border Aceh and North Sumatra

We spent one night in Sibolga. The rain was heavy during the night. Having dinner with mainly durian. Most of restaurants were closed due to raining.
The next day we continued to ride in northwesterly direction along the coast line. At the beginning the roads were OK until we reached Barus, a small town in the northern part of North Sumatra Province. From there we went to Manduamas, a village near border with Aceh Province. Some of the portions of the roads were still under construction and were very muddy. It took us 4 – 5 hrs to ride through that portion. At last we got through and stop for lunch in Lipat Kajang, a first small town near border in Aceh. Some bikes were slipped while riding though this muddy road. It was quite challenging !

Route Map from Sibolga, North Sumatra to Tapak Tuan, Aceh

Muddy road between Manduamas to Lipat Kajang

The survivor !

Stop near Lipat Kajang near border Aceh and North Sumatra

After passing through a town named Subulussalam, we entered Tapak Tuan. We were welcomed by local police and escorted us to the hotel. The road prior to enter Tapak Tuan was covered partially by land slide. However, we were able to pass through. We arrived at hotel just before dusk. The hotel might have to be called as Inn as it was a small place with limited facilities. In the evening we were invited by local chief police to have dinner. It was a nice dinner, one of the best meals we had in the tour.
The next morning we continued the ride from Tapak Tuan all the way to Banda Aceh. It was a long ride (approximately 600 kms). The road from Tapak Tuan to Meulaboh on the west cost of Sumatra has been repaired due to badly damaged during tsunami in 2004. From Meulaboh to Banda Aceh the road condition is excellent. Probably one of the best roads in Indonesia.

West coast of Aceh

We arrived in Banda Aceh under heavy rain. We went straight to Hermes Hotel, one of the best hotels in Banda Aceh. A group of IMBI Aceh bikers, welcomed us prior to enter region of Aceh Besar, in a resort area on the beach facing to Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, due to continuously raining we only stopped for a few minutes and proceeded riding to Banda Aceh.

We spent couple of days in Banda Aceh. Visited several tourist spots and tsunami memorial area, such as tsunami museum, ship that landed on the roof top of a house and floating power plant that washed ashore for about 3 km.